The Bible

The sole basis of our belief is the Bible, composed of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament. We believe that Scripture in its entirety originated with God who inspired it through his chosen human instruments. Scripture thus speaks with the authority of God and at the same time reflects the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of the human authors. We hold that the Scriptures are infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts and, when correctly interpreted, are trustworthy and fully truthful in all they teach. They are the unique, full, and final authority on all matters of faith and practice; there are no other writings similarly inspired by God. Proper interpretation requires applying the normal rules of grammar, and taking into account the literary context, historical-cultural setting, and the literary genre of each passage to be studied.

God

We believe in one living, true, and holy God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - each of whom possesses equally all of the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. God is the creator and preserver of all things, infinite in being and perfection. By his sovereign power, he continues to sustain his creation. By his providence, he is operating throughout history to fulfill his redemptive purposes.

Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man. He is the eternal second person of the Trinity who was united forever with a true human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He was born without sin, lived a sinless life, one of perfect obedience to God the Father and voluntarily atoned for the sins of all people by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and securing salvation for all who would trust in him alone. He rose from the dead in the same body, though now glorified, in which he lived and died. He ascended into heaven where he intercedes for his people and rules as the Lord of all creation. He will come again to earth, personally and visibly to consummate his sovereign rule and the eternal plan of God.

Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He was sent into the world by the Father and the Son to apply to humanity the saving work of Christ. He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them recognition of their need for a Savior, and regenerates those who believe. At the point of salvation, he indwells every believer to become the source of their assurance, strength, and wisdom, and he uniquely endows each believer with gifts for the building up of the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying the truths of Scripture and enables believers to lead lives of Christ-like character and to bear fruit to the glory of the Father.

People

We believe that people (male and female) were created in the image of God in order to bring honor and glory to him. But through rebellion against the Creator, humans fell from their sinless state into a condition of sin, death, and alienation from God. The entire race is born into this state of sin and death, sinful both by nature and by choice, and, apart from God's grace, incapable of entering a relationship with God. Thus, all stand in need of God's saving grace.

Salvation

Salvation is wholly the work of God's free grace, not the result, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness. God offers salvation to people on the basis of Jesus' death on the cross in payment for sin. Jesus triumphed over death in his resurrection and now occupies his position of exaltation at God's right hand. To obtain salvation, a person must repent of sin, trust in Jesus alone as Savior, and receive the risen Christ as Lord of his or her life. This expresses the core of the Christian faith: what is called the Gospel (good news). Belief in the gospel is required for a person to be a Christian.

Human Destiny

Death seals each person's eternal destiny. All people will experience a resurrection of the body and God's judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Unbelievers will be separated from God unto eternal condemnation for their own rejection of God. Believers will be received into eternal communion with God and will be rewarded for works done in this life.

Church

The church is a spiritual family, created by the Spirit and the Word of God, with the risen Christ as its Lord. There is one true universal church comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of baptism and communion as the sacraments established by Jesus Christ, fellowship, service to the body through the development and use of talents and gifts, and outreach to the world. Wherever God's people meet regularly in obedience to this command there is the local expression of the universal church. Its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the one ultimate purpose of glorifying God.

Doctrine on Which we Agree to Disagree

For those doctrines not stated above and for those positions not explicitly defined by the church, we allow freedom of belief and the freedom to disagree. However, in keeping with Jesus' desire for his disciples and the pervasive teaching of the New Testament we greatly prize unity in the church and insist that members do not vigorously promote doctrines or views such that they cause dissension and divisions within the body.